Hydraulic operated well tools



2 Sheets-Sheetl 1 E. A. KELLEY A TTORN E YS mow A. Kell BY bff HYDRAULIC OPERATED WELL TOOLS Dec. 27, 1966 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 E. A. KELLEY HYDRAULIC OPERATED WELL TooLs Dec. Z7, 1966 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 S Y R E mm, m ma M m MK L A` w o M m E .W

ffm

United States Patent O 3,294,171 HYDRAULIC OPERATED WELL TOOLS Emory A. Kelley, Corpus Christi, Tex., assigner to Gtis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,738 Claims. (Cl. 16e-120) This invention relates to well tools and more particularly to an actuator tool for initiating the operation of a fluid pressure operated well tool.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved actuator well tool for initiating the operation of another well tool whose operation is effected by the fluid pressure in a well.

Still another object is to provide an actuator tool for actuating another well tool, such as a packer or a bridge plug, whose operation is effected by the hydrostatic pressure in a well.

Still another object is to provide a well tool for actuating another well tool which is lowerable into the well with such other well tool by means of a flexible line and which has means operable when the well tools are positioned in a predetermined location in the well for transmitting the iiuid pressure in the well to the operator mechanism of the other well tool.

A further object is to provide a new and improved actuator tool for transmitting fluid pressure to a iiuid pressure operated well tool connected thereto which is operable upon predetermined longitudinal movement thereof in the well, the actuator tool having a valve which is moved to open position to transmit the fluid pressure to the operator mechanism of the pressure operated well tool connected thereto.

A still further object is to provide a well tool including a tubular mandrel having a valve closing a flow passage of the mandrel, anchoring means mounted on the mandrel for movement to its expanded position upon upward movement of the actuator tool in a well for anchoring the mandrel against downward movement in the well, and a support member connected to a mandrel for a limited longitudinal movement thereto for opening the valve upon downward movement of the support member relative to the mandrel.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE l is a schematic vertical view of the actuator Well tool and a iiuid pressure actuated bridge plug connected thereto `showing the actuator well tool and the bridge plug in the positions assumed thereby during the lowering of the well tools through a well flow conductor;

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE l showing the bridge plug in its anchored and sealing position in the flow conductor;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary partly sectional schematic view of a modified form of the actuator tool;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary partly sectional schematic view showing another modified form of the actuator tool;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary partly sectional schematic view of another modified form of the actuator tool;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary partly sectional schematic view of another modied form of the actuator well tool;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical partly sectional view of the upper portion of an actuator well tool shown schematically in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, being a continuation thereof, and showing an intermediate portion of the actuator tool;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8, being a 3,294,171 Patented Dec. 27, 1966 ice continuation thereof, showing the lower portion of the actuator tool; and

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10--10 of FIGURE 8.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawing, the actuator well tool 20 is shown connected to a fluid pressure actuated bridge plug 21 having a tubular mandrel 23 on which is mounted a lower anchor assembly 25 and its expander 26, a tubular resilient seal element 27, and an upper anchoring assembly 28 and its expander 29, the seal element 27 being disposed between the two eX- panders. The lower anchor assembly 25 includes a plurality of outwardly expansible slips 31 and an annular slip carrier 32 to which they are movably secured. Downward movement of the slip carrier on the mandrel is limited by its engagement with the upwardly facing annular shoulder 33 provided by the external annual end liange 34 of the mandrel.

The upper anchor assembly 28 similarly includes a plurality of outwardly expansible slips 36 supported by an annular slip carrier 37. Deformable back-up rings 27a may be positioned between the expanders and the adjacent ends of the seal element to bridge the gaps between the expanders and the internal surfaces of the well flow conductor C when the seal element is compressed and in expanded sealing engagement with the flow conductor to prevent its extrusion between the expanders and the ow conductor.

The expander 26 is releasably held in its upper position illustrated in FIGURE 1 by any suitable means such as a shear screw or shear pin 40. The upper slips 36 may be releasably secured against downward movement relative to their expander 29 by shear pins or screws 42.

The bridge plug 21 includes a piston cylinder 50 having a dependent extension 51 disposed into the upper end of the plug mandrel 23. The dependent extension has a bottom section 52 provided with an external end ange 52 whose top annular surface 53 engages the downwardly facing annular shoulder 55 provided by the top internal annular flange 57 of the plug mandrel.

A piston 60 has an annular flange 61 disposed in the longitudinal piston chamber 62 of the piston cylinder above the internal annular iiange 63 thereof. An O-ring 64 which seals between the piston and the internal surfaces of the piston sleeve, is disposed in a suitable external annular recess of the piston flange. The dependent stem or rod 67 of the piston extends downwardly through the internal ange 63 which has an internal annular recess in Awhich is disposed an O-ring 68 which seals between the flange and piston rod.

An operator sleeve 70 is connected to the piston by means of a pin 73 which extends through suitable aligned apertures in the upper end of the operator sleeve and in the lower end the piston rod and also through the diametrically opposed longitudinal slots 74 of the cylinder 5t? below its internal flange 63. The lower end of the operator sleeve telescopes over the upper end portion 75 of reduced diameter of the upper slip carrier and its annular downwardly facing bottom end shoulder engages the upwardly facing annular shoulder 76 of the upper slip carrier.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the bridge plug 21 is of a well known structure and that the upper and lower slip assemblies and the seal element are moved to their expanded anchoring and sealing positions upon downward movement of the operator sleeve relative to the mandrel from the position of FIGURE 1 to that of FIGURE 2. Such downward movement of the operator sleeve rst causes the shear pin 40 securing the lower expander 26 to the plug mandrel to fail, whereupon the lower expander 26, the seal element 27, the upper expander 29, and the upper anchor assembly 28 move downwardly on the mandrel until the lower expander moves the lower slips outwardly into anchoring engagement with the flow conductor C. Once the downward movement of the lower expander is thus stopped, further downward movement of the operator sleeve causes Vthe seal element to be expanded into its expanded sealing position whereupon the shear pins 42 securing the upper slips to the upper expander 29' shear and the upper slip assembly 28 moves downwardly relative to the upper expander until the slips 36 are moved into anchoring engagement with the internal surfaces of the flow conductor. The engagement of the downwardly facing teeth of the lower slips with the flow conductor now holds the lower expander, the seal element and the upper expander against downward movement on the plug mandrel and in the ow conductor and the engagement of the 'upwardly facing teeth of the upper slips with the flow 'conductor now hold the upper expander, the seal element and the lower expander against upward movement on Vthe plug mandrel and in the flow conductor.

Once the bridge plug has been thus set in anchored and sealing engagement in the flow conductor, an upward pull thereafter exerted on the piston cylinder which first causes the plug mandrel to shear at its line of mechanical weakness provided by the internal annular groove 80 thereof since the plug mandrel is now held against upward movement. Continued upward movement of the piston cylinder now causes the piston flange 61 to engage the piston cylinder ange 63 and the piston is then moved upwardly with the piston cylinder. When the pin 73 engages the upwardly facing surfaces 82 defining the lower ends of the longitudinal slots 74 of the operator sleeve, the opervator sleeve is moved upwardly with the piston and cylinder sleeve thus leaving the lower portion of the plug mandrel, the upper anchor assembly, the upper expander, the seal element, the lower anchor assembly and the lower expander in the positions illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The actuator tool for transmitting pressure from the well casing to the upper end of the piston chamber 62 of the piston cylinder includes the tubular mandrel or body 100 threaded in the upper end of the piston cylinder. The body 100 has a longitudinal chamber 101 and a lateral port 102 opening to the chamber from the exterior of the body at a point intermediate the ends of its chamber. The lateral port 102 is closed by a valve 105 having longitudinally spaced O-rings 107 and 108 which seal -with the internal surfaces of the body above and below the lateral port 102 to prevent communication of pressure from the exterior of the actuator tool body to the chamber 101 when the valve is held in the upper position illustrated in FIGURE l by the shear screw 110. The body also has a port 111 which communicates the lower end of the chamber 101 with the upper end of the piston chamber 462. The valve 105 is provided with a longitudinal passage 112 so the upper end of the chamber above the valve 105 is in communication with the bottom port 111. The upper end of the valve passage 112 is spaced from the lower end of the piston while its lower end is aligned with the bottom port 111 so that when the valve is in its lower open position, FIGURE 2, the pressure from the exterior of the body 100 is communicated to the upper end of the piston chamber.

A support rod or member 115 extends through a longitudinal bore 116 of the body which opens into the upper end of the valve chamber 101 and is releasably held in its upper position, FIGURE l, by a shear pin 118 which extends through suitable aligned transverse apertures in the actuator tool body and the support rod. An O-ring 119 disposed in a suitable internal annular recess of the body seals between the support rod and the body. Upward movement of the support rod relative to the body is limited by the engagement of the top surface 121 of its external annular ange 122 with the downwardly facing internal annular shoulder 123 of'the body dening the upper end of the internal annular recess 124 of the body.

An anchoring assembly disposed on the body includes a plurality of slips 131 whose lower ends extend upwardly from an annular slip carrier 132. The slip carrier is biased upwardly by a spring 135 whose lower end bears against the annular upwardly facing shoulder 13S of the body and whose upper end engages the lower end of the slip carrier. The slips have upwardly and outwardly extending cam surfaces which engage an outwardly and upwardly extending expander surface 142 of the body so that upward movement of the slips relative to the expander causes outward movement of the slips. The slips and the slip carrier are releasably held against movement from their lower positions on the body, illustrated in FIGURE 1, by any suitable detent means which pivot inwardly during downwardly movement of the actuator tool past upwardly facing internal obstructions of the flow conductor, such as the upper end shoulders 152 of the sections of the flow conductor at the connections of adjacent sections by the usual coupling collars 154, but which engage downwardly facing internal obstructions, such as the lower end shoulder of a flow conductor section at a coupling recess, and release the slips and slip carrier for upward movement on the body upon upward movement of the body in the flow conductor.

In use, a iluid pressure operated well tool, such as the bridge plug 21, is secured to the body of the actuator tool with its piston 60 in its upper position and with the piston chamber 62 below the piston flange 61 filled with a compressible gas, such as air, at a relative low pressure, such as atmospheric pressure. The upper end of the support rod 115 of the actuator tool is secured by a connector sub 160, threaded on the support rods threaded top end pin 161, of the usual set of exible or wire line tools so that the assembly of the actuator tool and the bridge plug is lowerable by the line in the flow conductor C. The actuator tool and the bridge plug are lowered by the flexible line until the bridge plug is located at a desired position in the ow conductor. An upward movement then imparted to the assembly, by means of the wire line, then causes the detent means 150 to engage a downwardly facing obstruction, such as the lower end 155 of a ow conductor section, and as the upward movement of the body 100 is continued, the `detent means are actuated and release the slips and the slip carrier 132 for upward movement relative to the body. The spring 135 moves the slip carrier and the slips upwardly, and, as the slips move upwardly on the body, they are moved outwardly into engagement with the internal surfaces of the flow conductor due to the camming engagement of their surfaces 140 with the expander surface 144 of the body. The downwardly facing teeth or serrations of the slips now engage the internalsurfaces of the flow conductor and prevent downward movement of the slips, and therefore of the body 100. A downward force or jar then imparted to the support rod by means of the usual set of ilexible or wire line tools, then causes the shear pin 118 to shear and free the support rod for downward movement in the body passage 116 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. Downward movement of the rod in the body causes its lower end surface to engage the top surface of the valve 105 and the downward force thus applied to the valve causes its shear pin tofail and the valve is moved downwardly in the body to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The upper end of the longitudinal passage 112 of the valve then opens to the exterior of the body through the valve chamber 101 and the body port 102 above the valve and its lower end communicates with the upper end of the longitudinal port 111 of the valve body so that the pressure from within the ow conductor, which is considerably higher than the pressure of the compressible gas in the piston chamber below the piston ange, is now communicated to the upper end of the piston chamber and moves the piston 60 of the bridge plug downwardly. Such downward movement of the piston moves the anchor assemblies and the seal element of the bridge plug to their expanded positions illustrated in FIGURE 2.

When the bridge plug is thus set by the fluid pressure within the ow conductor, an upward pull is again imparted to the support rod by means of the exible line and the operator rod moves upwardly relative to the body until its ange 122 engages the downwardly facing shoulder 123 of the body. Continued upward movement of the support rod then causes upward movement of the body 100 relative to the slips and slip carrier. The downwardly facing or biting teeth of the slips are thus freed for movement inwardly during upward movement of the body against the resistance of the spring 135. Upward movement of the body 100 also causes upward movement of the piston cylinder of the piston when the surfaces or shoulders 82 of the cylinder engage the pin 73. The upward force then imparted to the upper end of the plug mandrel as the body 100 continues to move upward causes its weakened section to fail and permit upward movement and removal of the operator sleeve 70, the piston cylinder and the piston of the bridge plug with the actuator tool, leaving the upper anchor assembly, the upper expander, the seal element, the lower anchor assembly and the lower expander in the well ilow conductor.

It will now be seen that the new and improved actuator tool 20 actuates a iluid pressure operated well tool, such as the bridge plug 21 which has an operator means such as a piston 60 mounted in a chamber thereof which, when exposed to the iluid pressure in the ow conductor, causes the well tool to be operated.

It will further be seen that the actuator tool includes a body connectable to the well tool 21 provided with a passage for transmitting iluid pressure from the exterior of the actuator tool body to the piston chamber, and a valve for closing the passage.

It will further be seen that the actuator tool is lowerable into and removable from a flow conductor by means of a exible line and the usual set of ilexible line tools and that the operation of the actuator tool is easily accomplished by predetermined longitudinal movement in a flow conductor imparted to the actuator tool through the flow conductor.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 7 through 10 which show the actual structure of the actuator tool 20 illustrated schematically in FIGURES 1 and 2, the tubular body or mandrel of the actuator tool 20 includes a tubular top section 10011, a connector section 10011, an expander section 100C, a spring retainer section 100:1, a bottom section 100e and a port section 1001. The top section 100a has a reduced lower end portion threaded into the upper end portion of the connector section 100b and provides the downwardly facing annular shoulder 123 which is engageable by the top annular shoulder or surface 121 of the external annular flange 122 of the support rod 150.

The connector section 100b has its lower end portion threaded into the upper end of the expander section 100C Whose upper end portion is enlarged to provide the upwardly and outwardly extending expander or cam surface 142. The lower end portion of the expander section 100e is threaded in the upper end portion of the spring retainer section 100:1. The bore of the spring retainer section 100:1 is enlarged as at 101:1 to provide the upper end portion of the valve chamber 101, the lower portion of the chamber 101 being defined by the bore 101b of the bottom section 100e of slightly smaller internal diameter which provides an annular shoulder 170 engageable by a detent means 110, such as a resilient ring disposed in an external annular recess of the valve 105, to hold the valve 105 in the upper position illustrated in FIGURE 9. The port section 100f is threaded in the lower end portion of the bottom section and provides the longitudinal port 111.

The valve 105 has a plurality of ports 105:1 which are aligned with the inernal annular recess 102a of the body,

into which open the lateral ports 102 of the bottom body section 102e, when the valve is in its lowermost position in the chamber 101 with its bottom shoulder 105d engaging the upper annular end shoulder of `the oriiice or port section f of the body. The lateral ports 105:1, when the valve is in its lowermost position, communicate with the longitudinal passage or bore 112 of the valve to permit fluid flow from the exterior of the body into the chamber 101, and the valve passage 112 to the orifice or longitudinal port 111 and thence into the piston chamber of a well tool, such as the lbridge plug 21, which is threaded into the 4bottom section 100e of the body. The port section 100i telescopes into the upper end of such piston chamber and has an external annular recess in which is disposed an O-ring 171 to provide a uid type connection. The passage 112 of the valve also has an upwardly extending sect-ion 112:1 which communicates with the upper end of the valve chamber 101 above the valve. An O-ring 172 seals between the port and bottom sections of the body 100 and an O-ring 173 seals between the bottom and spring retainer sections ofthe body.

The operator rod 115 has a rod section 115:: and a top connector section 115b. The rod section extends through the longitudinal bore 116 of the body and its annular external ange 122 is positioned in the internal annular body recess 124. The support rod is releasably secured to the body in the upper position illustrated in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 by the shear pin 118 which extends through suitable aligned apertures in the rod section 115:1 and .the connector section 100b of the body. The spring retainer section 100:1 has suitable internal annular apertures in which suitable sealing means, such as O-rings 119, are disposed and seal between the support rod and the body above the chamber 101 thereof.

The slips 131 of the anchor lassembly 130 have lower end portions provided with external bosses 131:1.which are received in the internal annular recess 132:1 of the annular slip carrier 132 and with internal bosses 131 which engage the outer surface of 4the expander section 100C of the body so that the slips are free to pivot outwardly above their lower ends and are held against longitudinal movement relative to the slip carrier. The slips extend through the radial circumferentially spaced slots 175 of an annular flange 176 of the expander body shown. Outward movement of the slips is limited by the retainer ring 177 which is positioned in the external circumferential slot 178 of the flange 176. Each of the slips is provided with an outwardly extending toot-h 131e` defined by the downwardly and outwardly convergent upper and lower shoulders or surfaces 131d and 131-e.

The detent means -for releasably holding the slips 131 in their lower retracted positions on the body 100 against the resistance of the spring 13S includes a slip sleeve 150:1 having an enlarged lower portion which telescopes over the upper end of the expander section 100C and whose lower annular curved end surface 150b engages the upper shoulders 131d of the collet ngers to hold the slips in their lower positions and at the same time its engagement with the slip shoulders 131:1 cams the upper ends of the slips inwardly. The slip sleeve thus holds .the slips in their inner retracted positions due to the camming engagement of its shoulder 150b with the upper upwardly and inwardly extending shoulders 131:1 of the slips. The slip sleeve is held in its lower position on the body `by means of the pivot pawls 150:: and the lock sleeve 150:1 disposed about the connector section 10011 whose bottom annular end shoulder 150e engages the upper surfaces of the inner end portions of the pivot pawls 150. The lock sleeve is held in the lower position illustrated in FIGURE 7 by `a shear pin 15'0f which extends through a lateral bore on top of the pawl sleeve 150f into a suitable external ybore of .the lock sleeve. The pawl sleeve is threaded on the lbody connector section 100b and its lower portion is spaced therefrom to provide an annular space in which the lock sleeve is positioned. The pawls are disposed in icircumferentially spaced downwardly opening slots 150g of the pawl sleeve land are pivotally secured to the pawl sleeve by the pins 150/1 which extend through the slots 150g. The pawls are resiliently biased to their outer positions illustrated in FIGURE 7 by the spring 135 and pivot upwardly upon engaging upwardly facing obstructions such as the annular end surfaces or shoulders 152 of ow conductor sections during downward `movement of the actuator tool through the flow conductor, slip sleeve, the slips and 4the slip carrier moving downwardly against the resistance of the spring 135 to permit such pivotal movement of the pawls. Upon upward movement of t-he actuator tool through the well flow conductor, the outer ends of the pawls engage the first downwardly facing obstruction which they encounter, such as the downwardly facing end shoulder or surface 155 of a flow conductor section, and further upward continued movement of the well tool then causes the outer ends of the pawls to pivot downwardly and to exert an upward force on the lock sleeve 150 which shears the shear pin 150]". The force of the spring 135 is then effective to move the slip sleeve, the slips and the slip carrier upward on the body. As the internal surfaces 140 of the slips move upwardly on the expander surface 142 of the expander section 160, the upper ends of the slips are moved outwardly the camming action Ibetween the top surfaces 131e? of the'slips and the bottom annular shoulder surface 15011 of the slip 'sleeve 15011 moving the slip sleeve upwardly relative to the slips to permit suc-h outward movement of the upper ends of the slips. The teeth of the slips then engage the internal surfaces of the ow conductor in which the well tool is disposed and thereafter limit downward movement of the body in such ow conductor.

In use, the actuator tool is connected by means of the threaded pin 161 of its top connector section 115b to a flexible line by the usual set of wire line tools while the support rod 115 is held in the upper position relative to the body 100 of the tool by the shear pin 118 and its valve 105 is held in its upper position illustrated in FIG- URE 9 by the detent means or ring 170 which engages the shoulder 170 of the body to hold the valve in its upper position against accidental downward 'movement therein. A fluid pressure operated well tool, such as the bridge plug 21, is connected to the lower end of the body 100 in the manner described with the O-ring 172 sealing therebetween so that the chamber 101 of the actuator which communicates with theupper end of the piston chamber of such well tool through the port 111 is sealed and filled with `a compressible gas, such as air, at

relatively low pressure, such as atmospheric pressure.

As the assembly of the two well tools is lowered into the flow conductor, the outer ends of the pawls 150C engage the internal surfaces of the flow conductor and their outer ends pivot upwardly to permit downward movement of the actuator tool therethrough. When it is desired to set or operate the fluid pressure operated tool, the assembly of the two tools is lifted upwardly until the pawls 150e engage a downwardly facing obstruction of a flow conductor whereupon the shear pin 150)c is sheared, the lock sleeveI is freed for upward movement and the force of the spring 135 moves the slip carrier, the slips and the slip sleeve upwardly on the body 100 causing the upper ends of the slips to move outwardly as they move over the expander surface 142 of the body and their teeth 131C engage the internal surfaces of the well flow conductor and then prevent downward movement of the body 100 in the flow conductor since any downward movement of the body tends to move the slips further outwardly due to the engagement of its expander surface 142 therewith. Downward movement then imparted to 'the support rod 115 causes the shear pin 118 to shear since the body will now be held against downward movement by the slips and as the support rod moves downwardly in the body, the lower end of the support rod engages the upper end of the valve and moves it downwardly, the detent means being resiliently deformed inwardly to permit such downward movement of the valveI until the valve is in its lowermost position with its ports 10511 in alignment and communication with the ports 102 of the actuator body whereupon the fluid pressure from the exterior of the well tool is communicated through the ports 112 and 111 to the well tool whose operation is thus initiated by the actuation of the actuator tool.

The actuator tool may then be removed together with the upper portions -of the well tool connected to the body 100 in the manner previously described, leaving the fluid pressure operated well tool in set or operative position in the flow conductor.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 3 of the drawing, the well tool 200 is similar to the actuator tool 20 and accordingly corresponding elements thereof have been provided with the same reference numerals as the well tool 20 to which the subscript p has been added. The body 10011 lof the actuator tool 200 includes an upper section 100m and a lower section 10011. The reduced lower end portion of the upper body section is threaded into the upper end of the lower body section and the valve or closure 10511 which is in the form of a frangible disk has an external annular flange which extends outwardly between and in sealing engagement with the lower annular end shoulder 100g of the upper body section and the upwardly facing annular shoulder 100y of the lower body section.

The support rod 115p has anv enlarged lower end portion 115-m which extends into the passage or valve chamber 101p for engaging and breaking the disk 105p when the support rod 11511 moves downwardly relative to the body 10011 after the shear pin 118p is sheared.

It will be apparent that the actuator tool will permit communication of uid pressure from the exterior thereof to a fluid pressure operated tool, such as the bridge plug 21, upon downward movement of the support rod 115p relative to its body 100p after the body has been `anchored against downward movement by the slips 131p of an anchoring assembly 13011 which is identical in structure and function to the anchoring assembly of the actuator tool 20.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 of the drawing, the well tool 210 is also similar to the well tools 20 and 200, and, accordingly its elements have been provided with the same reference numerals, to which the subscript 1' has been added, as the corresponding elements of the well tools 20 and 200. The frangibley disc or valve 1051' closing the passage 1011' of the body'1001' of the well tool 210 is pierced or fragmented by the pointed end 115z of the support rod 1151', when the shear pin 1181' is sheared as the support rod 1151' moves downwardly relative to the body, to permit fluid to flow through the port 1021', the passage or valve chamber 1011' and thelongitudinal port 1111' to the uid pressure operated well tool.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 5, the well tool 220 there illustrated is similar to the well tool 20 and, accordingly, the elements of the well tool 220 have been provided with the same reference numerals, to which the subscript s has been added, as the corresponding elements of the well tool 20. The valve chamber or passage 101s of the actuator tool 220 between the ports 102s and 111s is closed by the valve or closure portion 105s of the support rod 115s having an O-ring 221 disposed in a suitable external annular recess thereof which sealingly engages the surface 222 of the body below the port 102s when the support rod 115s is held in its upper position by the shear pin 118s. The external ange 122s of the support rod limits longitudinal movement of the support rod 115s relative to the body so that when the support rod has been moved to its lowermost position, wherein the O-ring 221 is moved out of sealing engagement with the internal surface 212 of the body, FIGURE 5, fluid from 9 the exterior of the body may llow into the upper end of the piston chamber 62 of the fluid pressure operated well tool 21 through the valve chamber or passage 101s and the longitudinal passage 111s to move the piston 60 to its lower position.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 6, the well tool 230 is also similar to the actuator well tool 20 and, accordingly, its elements have been provided with the same reference numerals, to which the subscript t has been added, as the corresponding elements of the well tool 20. The support rod 115i of the well tool 230 extends into the valve chamber or passage 101i of the body 1001 and has an O-ring 231 which sealingly engages the internal surface 232 of the body, when the support rod 115t is held in its upper position relative to the body by the shear pin 118i, to prevent fluid flow through the valve chamber 101i to the longitudinal port 111i of the body. The body 1001 also has a second passage or chamber 234 in which is disposed a valve or closure 235 which initially is held in an upper position in the chamber 234 by a shear pin 236 wherein its longitudinally spaced O- rings 237 and 23S are disposed above and below the lateral ports 239 of the body and sealingly engage the internalsurface 240 of the body to prevent communication of pressure from the exterior of the body through the port 239 and the chamber 234 to lthe longitudinal port 241 which opens into the upper end of the piston chamber 62 of the lluid pressure operated tool 21.

In use, the well tool 230 may be lowered into a well flow conductor and then moved upwardly to release its slips 131i of its anchoring assembly 130i with engagement with the internal surfaces of the llow conductor C and thereafter prevents downward movement of the body 1001i in the llow conductor. A downward force then imparted to the support rod 115i causes the shear pin 11st to shear and subsequent downward movement of the support rod 115i then moves its O-ring 231 out of sealing engagement with the surface 232 and permits the fluid pressure from the llow conductor to be communicated to the upper end of the second chamber 234 thereof.

The lluid pressure operated tool will not open if the fluid pressure in the llow conductor is below a certain value predetermined by the shear strength of the shear pin 236. The pressure in the llow conductor may then be increased to the such predetermined value, as by pumping lluid thereinto at the surface, and such increased fluid pressure will then cause the shear pin 236 to shear and the Valve to move downwardly to its open position. The pressure from the llow conductor is thus communicated to the upper end of the piston chamber 62 of the lluid pressure operated well tool 2l through the port 239, the chamber 234 and the port 241. It will be apparent that the actuator tool 230 may be employed in installations where it is desirable to control the operation of the actuator tool not only by the downward movement of the support rod 115t after the anchoring assembly 130t has been set but also by a subsequent increase in the fluid pressure in the ilow conductor.

It will now be apparent that each of the illustrated andrdescribed actuator tools includes a body which is connectable to a duid pressure operated tool and is provided with a llow passage which communicates with the fluid pressure operated tool and with the exterior of the body, a valve or closure means which initially closes the passage and prevents communication of iluid pressure from the exterior of the actuator tool to the operator means such as a piston, of the fluid pressure operated tool, a support rod which is initially releasably held in an upper position relative to the body and which is movable downwardly, after an anchoring assembly carried by the body has been set to limit downward movement of the actuator tool in a flow conductor, to engage the valve or closure means to open the flow passage for the llow of fluid therethrough to the fluid pressure operated well tool.

It will further be seen that in the well tools illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, the valve or closure member closing the llow passage of the actuator tube is a frangible disk which is fragmented or pierced upon a very short downward movement or stroke of the support rod relative to the body and that the operation of the well tool 230 is responsive not only to the downward movement of its suport rod relative to its body but also to the lluid pressure in the llow conductor.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An actuator tool for a lluid pressure operated tool, said actuator tool including: a body connectable to a fluid pressure operated tool and having a flow passage therethrough, said flow passage communicating with the exterior of the body and with a lluid pressure operated tool when the lluid operated tool is connected thereto; closure means closing said flow passage; anchor means on said body operable upon upward movement of said -body in a flow conductor and engageable with the llow conductor to prevent subsequent downward movement of the body in the llow conductor; a .support rod by means of which said actuator tool may be moved in a flow conductor releasably secured to said body, said support rod being movable downwardly relative to said body and said closure means, when downward movement of the said Ibody in a llow conductor is arrested by said anchoring means, to cause said closure means to open .said llow passage whereby lluid from the exterior of the body is communicated through said llow passage to a lluid pressure operated tool connected to said body.

2. An actuator tool for a lluid pressure operated tool, said actuator tool including: a body connectable to a lluid pressure operated tool and having a llow passage therethrough, said llow passage communicating with the exterior of the body and with a lluid pressure operated tool when the lluid operated tool is connected thereto; closure means closing said llow passage; anchor means on said body operable upon upward movement of said body in a ow conductor and engageable with the llow conductor to prevent subsequent downward movement of the body in the llow c-onductor; a support rod by means of which said actuator tool may be moved in a llow conductor releasably secured to said body, said support rod being movable downwardly relative to said body and said closure means when downward movement of the said body in a llow conductor is arrested by said anchoring means, to cause said closure means to open said flow passage whereby lluid from the exterior of the body is communicated through said ilow passage to a iluid pressure operated tool connected to said body, said closure means comprising a frangible disk, said support rod extending into said flow passage and engageable with said frangible disk to rupture said disk upon downward movement of said support rod relative to said body.

3. An actuator tool for a lluid pressure operated tool, said actuator tool including: a body connectable to a fluid pressure operated tool and having a llow passage therethrough, said ilow passage communicating with the exterior of the body and with a lluid pressure operated tool when the fluid operated tool is connected thereto; closure means closing said flow passage; anchor means on said body operable upon upward movement of said body in a ilow conductor and engageable with the flow conductor to prevent subsequent downward movement of the body in the llow conductor; a support rod by means of which said actuator tool may be moved in a llow conductor releasably secured to said body, said support rod being movable downwardly relative to said body and said closure means when downward movement of the said body in a ilow conductor is arrested by said anchoring means, to cause said closure means to open said flow passage whereby fluid from the exterior of the body is communicated through said ilow passage to a fluid pressure operated tool connected to said body, said closure means comprising a valve member releasably secured in an upper position in said llow passage closing said ilow passage and movable downwardly to a lower open position to open said flow passage by said support rod when said support rod is moved downwardly relative to said body.

4. An actuator tool for a fluid pressure operated tool, said actuator tool including: a body connectable to a fluid pressure operated tool; anchor means on said body; means biasing said anchoring means toward expanded anchoring position; detent means for holding said anchoring means in retracted and inoperative position, said detent means being engageable with a downwardly facing obstruction of a well ow conductor upon upward movement of the body in a well flow conductor for releasing said anchoring means for movement to expanded anchoring position in engagement with a well flow conduc-tor lwherein the anchoring means prevents downward movement of the body in the well ilow conductor; a support rod releasably secured to said body by means of which said body is movable through a well flow conductor, said body having a ow passage communicating with the exterior and the lluid pressure operated tool connected thereto; closure means closing said ilow passage, said support rod being engageable with said closure member upon downward movement of said support rod relative to said body for opening said ow passage whereby fluid `from the exterior of the body is communicated through said ow passage to the fluid pressure operated tool upon downward movement of said support rod relative to said body.

5. A tool assembly movable through a well ilow conductor; said tool assembly including: a well tool having a body provided with a piston chamber; a piston movably disposed in said chamber and operator means carried by said body and operable by said piston, said piston being movable from an initial inoperative position to an operative position in said chamber by uid pressure; and an actuator tool having a body connected to the upper end of said well tool body, said actuator tool body having a flow passage opening into said piston chamber and a lateral port communicating said passage with the exterior of said -actuator tool body, closure means in said passage closing said passage and preventing fluid flow from the exterior of said actuator tool body to said chamber through said passage, a support rod releasably secured to said well tool body in an upper position and movable downwardly relative to said well tool body, said support rod opening said closure means when moved longitudinally downwardly relative to said well tool body, and anchor means on said well tool body movable to expanded position to anchor said body against downward movement in a ilow conductor.

6. A tool assembly movable through a well flow conductor, said tool assembly including; a well tool having a body provided with a piston chamber, a piston movably disposed in said chamber and operator means carried by said body and operable by said piston, said piston being movable from an initial inoperative position to an operative position in said chamber by uid pressure; and an actuator tool having a body connected to the upper end of said well tool body, said actuator tool body having a flow passage opening into said piston chamber and a lateral port communicating said passage Iwith the exterior of said actuator tool body, closure means in said passage initially closing said passage and preventing fluid flow from the exterior of said actuator tool body to said chamber through said passage and slidable longitudinally in said passage to open said lateral port, a support rod releasably securtd to `Said well tool body in an upper position and movable downwardly relative to said well tool body, said support rod moving said closure means longitudinally of said passage to a position opening said closure means when moved longitudinally downwardly relative to said well tool body, and anchor means on said well tool body movable to expanded position to anchor said body against downward movement in a flow conductor. v

7. An actuator tool for a iluid pressure operated tool, said actuator tool including; a body connected to a fluid pressure operated tool and having a flow passage therethrough, said ow passage communicating with the exterior of the body and with the uid pressure operated tool when the lluid pressure operated tool is connected to said body; anchor means on said body operable upon upward movement of said body in a flow conductor for movement to expanded position wherein said anchor lmeans engage a ow conductor to prevent subsequent downward movement of the body in the ilow conductor; a support rod by means of which said actuator tool may be moved in -a flow conductor releasably secured in an upper position relative to said body, said support rod extending into said passage and having seal means engageable with said body preventing iluid flow through said flow passage when said support rod is in said upper position, said support rod being movable downwardly relative to said body when downward movement of said body in a tlow conductor is arrested by said anchor means to move said seal means out of sealing engagement with said body to open said ilow passage whereby lluid pressure from the exterior of the body is communicated through said passage to a fluid pressure operated tool connected to said body.

8. An actuator tool including: a tubular body having a longitudinal bore; a support rod extending into said bore by means of which the body may be supported during movement through a flow conductor; means releasably securing said support rod in an upper position relative to said body; an anchor assembly on said body including means biasing said anchor assembly toward expanded position wherein said anchor assembly engages internal surfaces of the flow conductor to prevent downward movement of the body in the flow conductor; detent means releasably holding said anchoring assembly against movement toward expanded position, said detent means being engageable with internal downwardly facing obstructions of a well ilow conductor for causing said detent means to release said anchor assembly for movement toward its expanded position upon upward movement of the body in a well ow conductor, said body having a lateral port communicating with said longitudinal bore; .and closure means in said bore preventing uid llow therethrough, said closure means being engageable by said support rod and openable thereby when said support rod is moved downwardly in said body to permit fluid ow from the exterior of said body into said bore, the lower end of said body having means for securing said bodyl to a fluid pressure operated tool whereby iluid pressure from the exterior of the body is communicated through said bore to said fluid pressure operated tool when said closure means is open.

9. An actuator tool including: a body having a longitudinal bore; a support rod extending into said bore by means of which the body may be supported; means releasably securing said support rod in an upper position relative to said body; an anchor assembly on said body including a plurality of slips, means biasing said slips upwardly, said slips and said body having coengageable means for moving said slips outwardly toward expanded position upon upward movement of said slips relative to said body; detent means releasably holding said slips against upward movement on said body, said detent means including means engageable with internal downwardly facing obstructions of a well ilow conductor for causing said detent means to release said slips for upward movement on said body upon upward movement of said body in a tlow conductor, said body having a lateral port communicating with said longitudinal bore; and closure means in said bore preventing fluid ow therethrough, said closure means being movable by said support rod and openable when said support rod is moved downwardly in said body to permit fluid flow from the exterior of the body through said bore, the lower end of said body having means for securing said body to a fluid pressure operated tool whereby fluid pressure from the exterior of the body is communicable through said bore to said fluid pressure operated tool when said closure means is open.

10. An actuator tool including: a body having a longitudinal bore; a support rod extending into said bore by means of which the body may be supported; means releasably securing said support rod in an upper position relative to said body; an anchor assembly on said body including a plurality of slips, means biasing said slips upwardly, said slips and said body having coengageable means for moving said slip outwardly toward expanded position upon upward movement of said slips relative to said body; detent means including a slip sleeve engageable with said slips for holding said slips against upward movement, pawl means pivotallysecured to said body and extending outwardly of said body for engaging downwardly facing obstructions, a lock sleeve releasably Secured to said body holding said pawl means against pivotal movement on said body, said pawl means having inner end portions disposed between said lock sleeve and said slip sleeve, the engagement of said inner end portions of said pawl means with said lock sleeve preventing upward movement of said slip sleeve, said pawl means being pivotally movable to release said lock sleeve from securement to said body to permit movement of said slip sleeve relative to said body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,323,085 6/1943 Davis 166-123 2,566,323 9/1951 Forsyth et al. 166-136 X 2,644,527 7/1953 Baker 166-123 2,690,223 9/1954 Baker 166-239 X 3,024,845 3/1962 Conrad 166--123 3,102,593 9/1963 Sizer 166-125 3,139,140 6/1964 Brown 166-120 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

D. H. BROWN, Assistant Examiner. 

5. A TOOL ASSEMBLY MOVABLE THROUGH A WELL FLOW CONDUCTOR; SAID TOOL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING: A WELL TOOL HAVING A BODY PROVIDED WITH A PISTON CHAMBER; A PISTON MOVABLY DISPOSED IN SAID CHAMBER AND OPERATOR MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BODY AND OPERABLE BY SAID PISTON, SAID PISTON BEING MOVABLE FROM AN INITIAL INOPERATIVE POSITION TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION IN SAID CHAMBER BY FLUID PRESSURE; AND AN ACTUATOR TOOL HAVING A BODY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID WELL TOOL BODY, SAID ACTUATOR TOOL BODY HAVING A FLOW PASSAGE OPENING INTO SAID PISTON CHAMBER AND A LATERAL PORT COMMUNICATING SAID PASSAGE WITH THE EXTERIOR OF SAID ACTUATOR TOOL BODY, CLOSURE MEANS IN SAID PASSAGE CLOSING SAID PASSAGE AND PREVENTING FLUID FLOW FROM THE EXTERIOR OF SAID ACTUATOR TOOL BODY TO SAID CHAMBER THROUGH SAID PASSAGE, A SUPPORT ROD RELEASABLY SECURED TO SAID WELL TOOL BODY IN AN UPPER POSITION AND MOVABLE DOWNWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID WELL TOOL BODY, SAID SUPPORT ROD OPENING SAID CLOSURE MEANS WHEN MOVED LONGITUDINALLY DOWNWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID WELL TOOL BODY, AND ANCHOR MEANS ON SAID WELL TOOL BODY MOVABLE TO EXPANDED POSITION TO ANCHOR SAID BODY AGAINST DOWNWARD MOVEMENT IN A FLOW CONDUCTOR. 